Beat the Heat: Indoor Fun for Hot Summer Days

The dog days of summer have settled in and it’s too hot to play outside all day. This leaves the kids with lots of energy to burn. Here are 15 easy ways to entertain the kids and keep cool at the same time.

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Get wet - The obvious place to keep cool is in the water. Take the kids to the pool, splash pad, or water park. Get out the sprinkler, baby pool or water table in the backyard. Try having a water balloon fight.

Movie marathon - Let the kids enjoy a movie marathon in the comfort of the house. Make popcorn or cool off with some ice cream while you enjoy relaxing and watching movies through the hottest part of the day. Often theater's have dollar movies during the summer just for kids that make a great break from the heat of the day without breaking the bank.

Get crafty - Paint, play with play dough, or make bead bracelets. Allow the kids to get creative by making their own scrapbook or finding items in your recycle bin they can make into sculptures.

Library trip - Take the kids to the library to cool off and find some great books and movies to check out. When you get home, spend some time relaxing and reading.

Indoor play - Check local listings for open gyms, indoor playgrounds, or other fun indoor activities where the kids can run and play without getting overheated.

Cool treats - Who doesn’t love a cool treat when it’s sweltering outside? Enjoy some ice cream or popsicles with the kids. For extra fun, try making your own.

Put on a show - Have the kids work together to put on a play, puppet show, or make up a dance routine and perform for you.

Play a typically outdoor game inside - Try playing hide and seek, hopscotch, or jump rope inside.

Picnic - Have an indoor picnic in the living room since it’s too hot to eat outside.

Home science - Try a science experiment at home. Make your own volcano, mix food coloring, or make a balloon rocket to teach the kids about science and stay cool indoors. Pinterest is loaded with easy activities to enthral your children.

Make cookies - Make no-bake cookies so that you do not have to turn the oven on.

Get out early, or late - Run errands or play outside early in the morning or later in the evening when the temperatures are cooler.

Build a fort - Have the kids make a fort with pillows and blankets for some indoor fun. A small fan can also help keep them cool and keep their blankets afloat.

Race track - Use masking tape to make a race track on the floor and let the kids see who drives the fastest.

Ice - Make a block of ice in advance. You can make your own art by putting on a cookie sheet or shallow pan and use salt and food coloring to melt the ice. You can also freeze things in the ice and let the kids play with the small toys as they fall out.

Sarah Lyons is a stay at home wife and mother of six children, including 18 month old triplets. Using creative consequences with her kids has improved their behavior and encourages healthy relationships with each other.